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infinimata's review against another edition
5.0
A slightly rough diamond but a diamond all the same. Much of why I picked up this book in the first place was to better acquaint myself with Taoism, specifically as it formed one of the key influences on Buddhism in China. Chuang Tzu I chose, I admit, in big part because he was one of the folks John Cage name-checked directly in his work, and I wanted to see the rest of what was there apart from the few snippets Cage quoted in "Indeterminacy" and "Silence". This particular edition is only a small part of Chuang Tzu's extant writings (hence the "rough), but they are the best preserved and most coherent part of it. It's not hard at all to see how many specific insights in it flow directly into similar insights in Zen, and for that reason I suspect a copy will end up on the same little shelf I have where I keep "The Zen Teachings Of Huang Po". And stay there for keeps.
waldowade's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing. The story about the "ugly" tree really stuck.
bemjanim's review against another edition
zhuang tzu uses so many words to say almost nothing about taoism, this is mainly his complaints about confucius and fond memories of the yellow emperor
daytonasplendor's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
3.5
gaiusgallus's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic book, full of parables that exemplify the Tao, full of life and humor. I rate it slightly lower than the Tao-Te-Ching simply because, as a text, it is a little less approachable. This is only because it makes many allusions and references to historical/mythical figures. While this translation does provide some foot notes for specific figures, I feel there is something lost on me as someone not intimately familiar with the history and culture of the time this was written.
Beyond that, I think this is a wonderful text. I am excited to return to it after some thought over its themes.
Beyond that, I think this is a wonderful text. I am excited to return to it after some thought over its themes.
silvio's review against another edition
4.0
Forget everything, including yourself, go calmly with the flow of how things are, here & now, empty, and there will be no more problems. Naturally.
Chuang Tzu's book is a lovely read, a juicy cocktail of deep truths, absolute nonsense, and everything in between (as all is the same, in a way), making for both deep contemplation and deep belly laughs. There's both the emptiness and lightness of enlightened Zen Buddhism (which actually has been greatly influenced by Taoism in its formation) and the more earthy, gravity-bound animism of shamanism... Naturalness (which is what Taoism is all about) lies in both of them. The cosmology actually has quite some similarities to Nondual Shaiva Tantra (which I love). I really like the vibe of Taoism - the "watercourse" way.
However, I must say that I had expected a bit more from this book. Having only read the Tao Te Ching prior to this one, I didn't know much about Taoism, even though I guess I thereby knew it's essence. Chuang Tzu allowed me to get more of a taste of it. Just as in the Tao Te Ching, I loved the deep philosophical statements and the whole vibe of flow & emptiness (a Truth shared with many other spiritual traditions), humility & serenity, and not to forget humor (all that being the "ultimate" state of being), but then when it gets to the practical stuff - how to get (or become) there - well, in a way, it's rather empty, too, and that's not so helpful. For me there is too much emphasis on accomplishment and too little humility (even though Taoism is all about humility) in the practical teaching itself. It sounds beautiful, but I just don't really find it so practical (most of the time). And there are some things that really don't resonate with me, like some views on politics and government. The Tao is timeless, it is the way of things - but the way towards that way is not quite so timeless, in my opinion. I'm a 21st century Westerner and yes I'm guilty for romanticism, but also for a need for practicality. I think Zen would be an upgrade from Taoism for me (and then, of course, Nondual Shaiva Tantra is a big upgrade from that). But, well, maybe I have to find a more practical book about Taoism, or maybe I'm still misunderstanding it (obviously I am)...
Chuang Tzu's book is a lovely read, a juicy cocktail of deep truths, absolute nonsense, and everything in between (as all is the same, in a way), making for both deep contemplation and deep belly laughs. There's both the emptiness and lightness of enlightened Zen Buddhism (which actually has been greatly influenced by Taoism in its formation) and the more earthy, gravity-bound animism of shamanism... Naturalness (which is what Taoism is all about) lies in both of them. The cosmology actually has quite some similarities to Nondual Shaiva Tantra (which I love). I really like the vibe of Taoism - the "watercourse" way.
However, I must say that I had expected a bit more from this book. Having only read the Tao Te Ching prior to this one, I didn't know much about Taoism, even though I guess I thereby knew it's essence. Chuang Tzu allowed me to get more of a taste of it. Just as in the Tao Te Ching, I loved the deep philosophical statements and the whole vibe of flow & emptiness (a Truth shared with many other spiritual traditions), humility & serenity, and not to forget humor (all that being the "ultimate" state of being), but then when it gets to the practical stuff - how to get (or become) there - well, in a way, it's rather empty, too, and that's not so helpful. For me there is too much emphasis on accomplishment and too little humility (even though Taoism is all about humility) in the practical teaching itself. It sounds beautiful, but I just don't really find it so practical (most of the time). And there are some things that really don't resonate with me, like some views on politics and government. The Tao is timeless, it is the way of things - but the way towards that way is not quite so timeless, in my opinion. I'm a 21st century Westerner and yes I'm guilty for romanticism, but also for a need for practicality. I think Zen would be an upgrade from Taoism for me (and then, of course, Nondual Shaiva Tantra is a big upgrade from that). But, well, maybe I have to find a more practical book about Taoism, or maybe I'm still misunderstanding it (obviously I am)...
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